The Portraits of Homelessness collection, featuring 45 photographs and stories of residents from the Men’s Shelter at 2100 Lakeside, will be on display at Ursuline College’s Wasmer Gallery 2550 Lander Road, Pepper Pike from November 2nd through January 4th. The opening reception will take place on Friday, November 2nd from 5 - 7 PM.

According to Lydia Bailey, volunteer coordinator at the shelter and photographer of the collection, “When you see the expression on a person’s face; hear the inflection in a person’s voice; work with a person who is homeless and know their strengths, begin to know their challenges-- you pick up on the individual. These are individuals with concerns and hopes like yours and mine. Through this show, I hope to convey their gifts and vital personalities as well as the confusing, fearful and damaging elements of homelessness.”

Michael Sering, director of housing & shelter at Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry said, “In this show we can see a powerful microcosm of humanity and society- strength and frailty, brokenness and resilience, hope and sorrow, and indeed potential.”

Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry’s Men’s Shelter at 2100 Lakeside is the largest shelter in Ohio, serving over 3,900 men who are homeless each year. The collection has been showing throughout the Greater Cleveland area since 2010, including Cleveland’s City Hall. Full funding for the exhibit was provided by The Dominion Foundation and Community West Foundation.

For further information on Portraits of Homelessness, see www.portraitsofhomelessness.com or contact Lydia Bailey at 216 649 7723. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 12 - 5 PM and Saturday and Sunday, 1:30 - 4:30 PM. For more information, contact 440 646 8122 or visit www.ursuline.edu/wasmer.